Monday, October 6, 2008

Good times were had by all. Starting a ride with a full tank of Dunkel from the Uberstein should likely be a mandatory pre-ride prep from now on. We did take a pitstop for some eats and more beer at about the halfway point so Darin could catch up with us after his "inlaw dinner". The pitstop O'Shaugnessy's couldn't have been chosen better. Bikeless Mike, a friend from way, way back gave us some exemplary service and sent us on our way to the Huettenbar. Try the Alt at the Huetten if you get a chance.

If anyone's reading this, one item worth note is the discussion had Friday night about getting the Chicago FBC on the Full Moon cycle. We won't be able to accomplish this before the end of the year because of schedule demands outside the world of bicycling, but it's looking good for 2009. Should inspire a lot of crazy as well.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

If you’re from St. Louis or Spokane or if you’ve just heard of the FBC in other cities, you might be wondering why the hell the Chicago chapter has shucked FBC tradition and doesn’t organize the regular ride under the full moon. The monthly spectacle of the full moon is cause for ritual by many, and admittedly just a good night for crazy shit in general. It could also easily coincide with drinking and putting 700c wheels to pavement, BUT your humble founder and blogster as well as many of the potential first members (we haven’t even had a ride yet) also happen to be in the performing arts. Bottom line is: during most full moons our bikes are crammed into hallways, back rows, or locked up outside of dark theatres or warehouse spaces. Performances can’t be missed and rehearsal schedules always change. The alternative is organizing all midnight rides, but of course this creates even more logistical hemorrhoids so we have to be a little flexible to accommodate.

So for now anyway, we’re planning on organizing a ride at some point during the first week of every month regardless of the weather. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, we'll announce the date a week or two in advance. Of course this is not chiseled into a tablet, but seems a logical place to begin. Also, this way we never have to worry about coinciding with Critical Mass either.

If you’re really looking for something to do during a full moon, check out the Fire Tribe just south of Foster Beach. Koi spinners, dudes with flaming staffs, chicks with flaming hula hoops...it’s one of the hippest things I’ve ever seen. I'd head there more often but alas, shows. From time to time, the full moon will be during a good part of the week, so I’m going to try to integrate an FBC ride with the Fire Tribe at some point. That, my friends will be a pretty cool fucking ride. Might have some sort of flaming bike contest.

At any rate, the first ride is still scheduled for tomorrow, 9/3. We're meeting at the Piano Man at 7. If anyone is reading this, I hope to see you there.

Monday, August 25, 2008

It all started with a trip to Spokane, WA to visit a college roommate who married a high school friend of mine a few years ago. As luck would have it, the Spokane chapter of the Fucking Bike Club was having their monthly ride the same weekend so, astride a loaner brown-metallic Trek 620, I took to the streets with 71 other bike yahoos on a quest for beer. Under a full moon, we assembled at a bar called The Swamp, and ended 7 miles northeast at The Hub for pitchers of Kokanee Lager.

There was a really cool and friendly vibe to the whole beer-fueled thing. It was exactly what I would've asked to do during a visit to a strange town, but how often can that be provided?!

At any rate, I told Jeff, the organizer, how cool I thought the FBC was and that I was thinking of starting up something similar in Chicago. Jeff agreed it to be a great idea and suggested I call it the Chicago Chapter of the FBC. Why the hell not? Three days later after a handfull of Millers with my brother Darin, Chicago's Fucking Bike Club was two members strong.

If I remember right, the rules for the FBC Spokane were...well, something, something, and don't be an asshole. (I'm sure you can find the rest on his blog) That sounds pretty good, especially when combined with the following statement especially applicable to the Chicago chapter:

This is not show and tell or a fashion contest. This is for the bicyclist who loves to ride

and drink beer.

We will have a ride during the first week of every month. Hopefully we can get an emailing list up and running with all the announcements of the dates as well as the start and finish lines.

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About Me

The FBC doesn't exist in any official capacity, and is open to anyone at any experience level. What we do is drink beer and ride bikes, the flagship ride being the Full Moon Fiasco every month. There will also be a few miscellaneous rides.